TORONTO, Jan. 8 /CNW/ - Catherine Swift, president of the Canadian
Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), will appear at a pre-budget
consultation roundtable with federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty on Friday,
January 9, 2009 to present the Federation's priorities for the 2009 budget on
behalf of its 105,000 members.
The meeting will take place in room Le Parc 3 at the Le Parc Conference
and Banquet Centre, 8432 Leslie Street in Thornhill, and is expected to run
from 8:30 a.m. to approximately 1:30 p.m.
Swift said the small business sector is a fundamental player in
contributing to this country's economic recovery and as such, this is the time
for the federal government to give it a much needed boost in its upcoming
budget scheduled for January 27th.
CFIB is calling on Flaherty to:
- Avoid deficits;
- Decrease spending;
- Avoid expensive bailout packages;
- Overhaul Employment Insurance (EI);
- Develop a long-term personal income tax cut plan, and;
- Focus on wide-ranging economic policy for small- and medium-sized
businesses, such as finding ways of easing succession for small
businesses and entrepreneurs.
"We would hope the Minister and this government will take these
recommendations to heart," said Swift, "given that the small- and medium-sized
business sector represents nearly half the country's Gross Domestic Product
(GDP)." She said implementing CFIB's recommendations will among other things,
further job creation and allow businesses to use savings from tax and
regulatory reductions to invest back into their enterprises. "For the good of
this country, the federal government must keep its pre-election promises and
move forward with a comprehensive plan to address the economy," Swift said,
adding that these changes are essential to harnessing Canada's competitive
advantage.

For further information:

For further information: Media can contact Gisele Lumsden or Meghan
Carrington at (416) 222-8022 for interviews with Swift and/or receive further
information.